Cap for a Container

ABSTRACT

A bulbous cap for a container, and a method of opening or closing the container using the bulbous cap. The bulbous cap includes an enlarged radius about an axis thereof, such that an individual is able to increase an applied torque when opening or closing the container to more easily remove the bulbous cap from, or attach it to, the container, respectively. The bulbous cap includes a cylindrical cavity on a lower portion thereof which extends toward an interior of the bulbous cap, which is sized to fit over a mouth of the container, and includes a threading thereon that is complementary to a threading of the mouth of the container.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/818,360 filed on Mar. 14, 2019. The aboveidentified patent application is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bulbous cap for a container, and amethod of opening or closing the container using the bulbous cap.

Many individuals struggle to open or close containers due to thecontainer including an ordinary cap thereon. These ordinary caps includea minimal radius, and when a rotational force is applied to the ordinarycap to remove it from the container, a resulting torque is minimal whichrequires more effort from the individual. Many of these individuals mayhave arthritis or may otherwise be unable to grip the cap and open orclose the container, and frustration or injury may occur as a result.Accordingly, there is a need for a cap with an enlarged radius forenabling the individual to more easily remove the cap from thecontainer.

Therefore, there is a need for a cap with an enlarged radius forenabling the individual to more easily remove the cap from thecontainer. The present invention addresses this unmet need.

Articles have been disclosed in the art that relate to caps forcontainers. These include articles that have been patented and publishedin patent application publications. These articles are often difficultto operate, and difficult to open or close a container having thesearticles thereon. In view of the articles disclosed in the art, it issubmitted that there is a need for an improvement to existing caps forcontainers. In view of the present disclosure, it is submitted that thepresent invention substantially diverges in structural and functionalelements from articles in the art, and substantially fulfills an unmetneed in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of containercaps in the art, the present invention provides a new and improvedbulbous cap for a container, wherein the same can be utilized forassisting an individual with or enabling the individual to open or closethe container.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bulbouscap for a container that is easy to use and enables individuals withphysical limitations to open and close containers, including but notnecessarily limited to bottles and jars.

In one aspect, the invention provides a bulbous cap for a container,comprising a grip portion and a cylindrical mouth portion. The gripportion comprises a first radius along a first horizontal axis thereofthat is greater than a second radius along a second horizontal axisthereof. In addition, the first horizontal axis is perpendicular to thesecond horizontal axis, and both the first horizontal axis and thesecond horizontal axis are each perpendicular to a vertical axis thatextends through a center of the cylindrical mouth portion. Thecylindrical mouth portion is sized to fit over a mouth of the containerand includes a threading thereon that is complementary to a threading ofthe mouth of the container.

Upon application of a rotational force about the first horizontal axisof the grip portion, a torque is applied to the cylindrical mouthportion that is greater than a torque that would be applied to thecylindrical mouth portion if the rotational force were applied about thesecond horizontal axis of the grip portion. In this manner, the bulbouscap provides an individual with greater torque when opening or closing acontainer. The bulbous cap may be sized and configured for use with anycontainer of any size, though hand-held containers are particularlycontemplated herein. Exemplary hand-held containers include, but are notparticularly limited to, bottles and jars. In various embodiments, therotational force applied to the grip portion may be countered by anopposing rotational force applied to a portion of the container, aswould be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

In some embodiments, the grip portion further comprises a third radiusalong the first horizontal axis that is greater than a fourth radiusalong the second horizontal axis, wherein the first radius is equal toand parallel with the third radius, and wherein the second radius isequal to and parallel with the fourth radius. In such embodiments, thethird radius extends outward from a central point of the bulbous cap, ina direction that is opposite to a direction in which the first radiusextends outward from the central point of the bulbous cap.

In addition, in such embodiments, the fourth radius extends outward fromthe central point of the bulbous cap, in a direction that is opposite toa direction in which the second radius extends outward from the centralpoint. In this manner, in such embodiments, an individual using thebulbous cap to open or close the container can apply more than one forceto the grip portion, such as a first force applied to the grip portionabout the first radius, and a second force applied to the grip portionabout the third radius. Accordingly, a twisting motion may be employedthat maximizes use of the grip portion to maximize the torque applied tothe cylindrical mouth portion.

In some embodiments, a first cross section of the grip portion along thefirst horizontal axis is circular. In this manner, the grip portion maybe sized and/or shaped to fit within a palm of a hand of the individual.In addition, in this manner, a manufacturing of the bulbous cap may befacilitated. In some embodiments, a second cross section of the gripportion along the second horizontal axis is oval. In this manner, thegrip portion may be further sized and/or shaped to fit within the palmof the hand of the individual, and manufacturing may be facilitated.

In some embodiments, a third cross section of the grip portion along thevertical axis is oval. In such embodiments, and in a particular aspect,the bulbous cap may be shaped similar to a shape of a football, andgenerally may be sized to fit within the palm of the hand of theindividual. In this respect the bulbous cap includes two apexes with abulbous middle portion, and may preferably not include additionalstructure thereon. In this manner, the bulbous cap may not be overlycomplicated to use, and may be easier to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bulbous cap thatmay be readily manufactured from materials that permit relative economyand are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of the invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannersin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a first exemplary bulbous capreversibly attached to a bottle.

FIG. 2 depicts a left or right side view of the first exemplary bulbouscap.

FIG. 3 depicts a front or rear view of the first exemplary bulbous cap.

FIG. 4 depicts a top view of the first exemplary bulbous cap.

FIG. 5 depicts a bottom view of the first exemplary bulbous cap.

FIG. 6 depicts a cross sectional view of the first exemplary bulbouscap.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of a second exemplary bulbous capreversibly attached to ajar.

FIG. 8 depicts a left or right side view of the second exemplary bulbouscap.

FIG. 9 depicts a front or rear view of the second exemplary bulbous cap.

FIG. 10 depicts a top view of the second exemplary bulbous cap.

FIG. 11 depicts a bottom view of the second exemplary bulbous cap.

FIG. 12 depicts a cross sectional view of the second exemplary bulbouscap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the invention. The figures are intended for representativepurposes only and should not be considered limiting in any respect.

Reference is now made to the drawings, which depict one or moreexemplary embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, there are depicted several views of a firstexemplary bulbous cap according to the present invention. A firstexemplary bulbous cap 1 is sized and configured for use with a smallercontainer, such as a bottle 2, as shown in FIG. 1. In this manner, thefirst exemplary bulbous cap 1 may fit into a smaller palm of a hand of afirst individual more effectively than a cap of a different size orshape, thereby facilitating its use. Further, the first exemplarybulbous cap 1 is sized for the smaller container (i.e., the bottle 2),and is configured to increase the applied torque accordingly.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-11, there are depicted several views of asecond exemplary bulbous cap according to the present invention. Asecond exemplary bulbous cap 3 is sized and configured for use with alarger container, such as a jar 4, as shown in FIG. 7. In this manner,the second exemplary bulbous cap 3 may fit into a larger palm of a handof a second individual more effectively than a cap of a different sizeor shape, thereby facilitating its use. Further, the second exemplarybulbous cap 3 is sized for the larger container (i.e., the jar 4), andis configured to increase the applied torque accordingly.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a perspective view of a firstexemplary bulbous cap reversibly attached to a bottle. A bulbous cap 1for a container 2 comprises a grip portion and a cylindrical mouthportion. The bulbous cap 1 is sized and configured to fit snugly againstthe cylindrical mouth portion of the container 2 to close the container2. The size and shape of the bulbous cap, e.g., the grip portion,enables an individual to more easily open or close the container, asdescribed elsewhere herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, there are depicted a left or right side view(FIG. 2), a front or rear view (FIG. 3), a top view (FIG. 4), a bottomview (FIG. 5), and a cross sectional view (FIG. 6) of the firstexemplary bulbous cap. The bulbous cap 1 is bisymmetrical about acentral vertical axis 19, and as such, the left side appears the same asthe right side, and the front side appears the same as the rear side.

The grip portion 11 comprises a first radius 5 along a first horizontalaxis 15 thereof that is greater than a second radius 6 along a secondhorizontal axis 16 thereof. In addition, the first horizontal axis 15 isperpendicular to the second horizontal axis 16, and both the firsthorizontal axis 15 and the second horizontal axis 16 are eachperpendicular to a vertical axis 19 that extends through a center of thecylindrical mouth portion 9 (19 of FIG. 6). The cylindrical mouthportion 9 is sized to fit over a mouth of the container and includes athreading 10 thereon that is complementary to a threading of the mouthof the container.

In the shown embodiment, the grip portion 11 further comprises a thirdradius along the first horizontal axis 15 that is greater than a fourthradius along the second horizontal axis, wherein the first radius isequal to and parallel with the third radius, and wherein the secondradius is equal to and parallel with the fourth radius. In suchembodiments, the third radius extends outward from a central point ofthe bulbous cap 1, in a direction that is opposite to a direction inwhich the first radius extends outward from the central point of thebulbous cap 1.

In addition, in such embodiments, the fourth radius extends outward fromthe central point of the bulbous cap 1, in a direction that is oppositeto a direction in which the second radius extends outward from thecentral point. In this manner, in such embodiments, an individual usingthe bulbous cap 1 to open or close the container can apply more than oneforce to the grip portion 11, such as a first force applied to the gripportion 11 about the first radius, and a second force applied to thegrip portion 11 about the third radius. Accordingly, a twisting motionmay be employed that maximizes use of the grip portion to maximize thetorque applied to the cylindrical mouth portion 9.

In the shown embodiment, a first cross section of the grip portion 11along the first horizontal axis 15 is circular (i.e., before or after anarcuate cutout portion of the cylindrical mouth portion 9). In thismanner, the grip portion 11 may be sized and/or shaped to fit within apalm of a hand of the individual. In addition, in this manner, amanufacturing of the bulbous cap 1 may be facilitated. In someembodiments, a second cross section of the grip portion 11 along thesecond horizontal axis is oval. In this manner, the grip portion 11 maybe further sized and/or shaped to fit within the palm of the hand of theindividual, and manufacturing may be facilitated. In the shownembodiment, the cylindrical mouth portion 9 includes an arcuate cutoutportion, such that the arcuate cutout portion extends into the gripportion 11 a certain distance, and a portion of the cylindrical mouthportion 9 having threading 10 thereon is sized to leave a gap betweenthe threading 10 and a lower end of the cylindrical mouth portion 9. Inthis manner, the cylindrical mouth portion 9 may more easily oreffectively fit over a mouth of a bottle during use.

In some embodiments, a third cross section of the grip portion 11 alongthe vertical axis 19 is oval. In such embodiments, and in a particularaspect, the bulbous cap 1 may be shaped similar to a shape of afootball, and generally may be sized to fit within the palm of the handof the individual. In this respect the bulbous cap 1 includes two apexeswith a bulbous middle portion, and may preferably not include additionalstructure thereon. In this manner, the bulbous cap 1 may not be overlycomplicated to use, and may be easier to manufacture.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is depicted a perspective view of asecond exemplary bulbous cap reversibly attached to a jar. A bulbous cap3 for a container 4 comprises a grip portion and a cylindrical mouthportion. The bulbous cap 1 is sized and configured to fit snugly againstthe cylindrical mouth portion of the container 2 to close the container2. The size and shape of the bulbous cap, e.g., the grip portion,enables the individual to more easily open or close the container, asdescribed elsewhere herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-12, there is depicted a left or right side view(FIG. 8), a front or rear view (FIG. 9), a top view (FIG. 10), a bottomview (FIG. 11), and a cross sectional view (FIG. 12) of the secondexemplary bulbous cap. The bulbous cap 3 is bisymmetrical about acentral vertical axis 20, and as such, the left side appears the same asthe right side, and the front side appears the same as the rear side.

The grip portion 14 comprises a first radius 7 along a first horizontalaxis 17 thereof that is greater than a second radius 8 along a secondhorizontal axis 18 thereof. In addition, the first horizontal axis 17 isperpendicular to the second horizontal axis 18, and both the firsthorizontal axis 17 and the second horizontal axis 18 are eachperpendicular to a vertical axis 20 that extends through a center of thecylindrical mouth portion 12 (20 of FIG. 12). The cylindrical mouthportion 12 is sized to fit over a mouth of the container and includes athreading 13 thereon that is complementary to a threading of the mouthof the container.

In the shown embodiment, the grip portion 14 further comprises a thirdradius along the first horizontal axis 17 that is greater than a fourthradius along the second horizontal axis 18, wherein the first radius isequal to and parallel with the third radius, and wherein the secondradius is equal to and parallel with the fourth radius. In suchembodiments, the third radius extends outward from a central point ofthe bulbous cap 3, in a direction that is opposite to a direction inwhich the first radius extends outward from the central point of thebulbous cap 3.

In addition, in such embodiments, the fourth radius extends outward fromthe central point of the bulbous cap 3, in a direction that is oppositeto a direction in which the second radius extends outward from thecentral point. In this manner, in such embodiments, an individual usingthe bulbous cap 3 to open or close the container can apply more than oneforce to the grip portion 14, such as a first force applied to the gripportion 14 about the first radius, and a second force applied to thegrip portion 14 about the third radius. Accordingly, a twisting motionmay be employed that maximizes use of the grip portion to maximize thetorque applied to the cylindrical mouth portion 12.

In the shown embodiment, a first cross section of the grip portion 14along the first horizontal axis 17 is circular (i.e., before or after aflat cutout portion of the cylindrical mouth portion 12). In thismanner, the grip portion 14 may be sized and/or shaped to fit within apalm of a hand of the individual. In addition, in this manner, amanufacturing of the bulbous cap 3 may be facilitated. In someembodiments, a second cross section of the grip portion 14 along thesecond horizontal axis is oval. In this manner, the grip portion 14 maybe further sized and/or shaped to fit within the palm of the hand of theindividual, and manufacturing may be facilitated. In the shownembodiment, the cylindrical mouth portion 12 includes a flat cutoutportion, such that the flat cutout portion may not extend into the gripportion 14 a certain distance, and a portion of the cylindrical mouthportion 12 having threading 13 thereon is sized to not leave a gapbetween the threading 13 and a lower end of the cylindrical mouthportion 12. In this manner, the cylindrical mouth portion 12 may moresnugly fit over a mouth of a bottle during use, and engage therewith byfriction fit.

In some embodiments, a third cross section of the grip portion 14 alongthe vertical axis 20 is oval. In such embodiments, and in a particularaspect, the bulbous cap 3 may be shaped similar to a shape of afootball, and generally may be sized to fit within the palm of the handof the individual. In this respect the bulbous cap 3 includes two apexeswith a bulbous middle portion, and may preferably not include additionalstructure thereon. In this manner, the bulbous cap 3 may not be overlycomplicated to use, and may be easier to manufacture.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thepresent invention to the precise forms disclosed, and modifications andvariations are possible in view of the above teaching. The exemplaryembodiment was chosen and described to best explain the principles ofthe present invention and its practical application, to thereby enableothers skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and itsembodiments with modifications as suited to the use contemplated.

It is therefore submitted that the present invention has been shown anddescribed in the most practical and exemplary embodiments. It should berecognized that departures may be made which fall within the scope ofthe invention. With respect to the description provided herein, it issubmitted that the optimal features of the invention include variationsin size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,assembly, and use. All structures, functions, and relationshipsequivalent or essentially equivalent to those disclosed are intended tobe encompassed by the present invention.

I claim: 1) A bulbous cap for a container, comprising: a grip portionand a cylindrical mouth portion; wherein the grip portion comprises afirst radius along a first horizontal axis thereof that is greater thana second radius along a second horizontal axis thereof; wherein thefirst horizontal axis is perpendicular to the second horizontal axis,and wherein both the first horizontal axis and the second horizontalaxis are each perpendicular to a vertical axis that extends through acenter of the cylindrical mouth portion; wherein the cylindrical mouthportion is sized to fit over a mouth of the container and includes athreading thereon that is complementary to a threading of the mouth ofthe container; whereupon application of a rotational force about thefirst horizontal axis of the grip portion, a torque is applied to thecylindrical mouth portion that is greater than a torque that would beapplied to the cylindrical mouth portion if the rotational force wereapplied about the second horizontal axis of the grip portion. 2) Thebulbous cap of claim 1, wherein the grip portion further comprises athird radius along the first horizontal axis that is greater than afourth radius along the second horizontal axis, wherein the first radiusis equal to and parallel with the third radius, and wherein the secondradius is equal to and parallel with the fourth radius. 3) The bulbouscap of claim 2, wherein a first cross section of the grip portion alongthe first horizontal axis is circular. 4) The bulbous cap of claim 3,wherein a second cross section of the grip portion along the secondhorizontal axis is oval. 5) The bulbous cap of claim 4, wherein a thirdcross section of the grip portion along the vertical axis is oval. 6) Abulbous cap for a container, consisting essentially of: a grip portionand a cylindrical mouth portion; wherein the grip portion consistsessentially of a first radius along a first horizontal axis thereof thatis greater than a second radius along a second horizontal axis thereof;wherein the first horizontal axis is perpendicular to the secondhorizontal axis, and wherein both the first horizontal axis and thesecond horizontal axis are each perpendicular to a vertical axis thatextends through a center of the cylindrical mouth portion; wherein thecylindrical mouth portion is sized to fit over a mouth of the containerand includes a threading thereon that is complementary to a threading ofthe mouth of the container; whereupon application of a rotational forceabout the first horizontal axis of the grip portion, a torque is appliedto the cylindrical mouth portion that is greater than a torque thatwould be applied to the cylindrical mouth portion if the rotationalforce were applied about the second horizontal axis of the grip portion.7) The bulbous cap of claim 6, wherein the grip portion further includesa third radius along the first horizontal axis that is greater than afourth radius along the second horizontal axis, wherein the first radiusis equal to and parallel with the third radius, and wherein the secondradius is equal to and parallel with the fourth radius. 8) The bulbouscap of claim 7, wherein a first cross section of the grip portion alongthe first horizontal axis is circular. 9) The bulbous cap of claim 8,wherein a second cross section of the grip portion along the secondhorizontal axis is oval. 10) The bulbous cap of claim 9, wherein a thirdcross section of the grip portion along the vertical axis is oval. 11) Amethod of opening or closing a container with a bulbous cap, comprising:gripping a grip portion of the bulbous cap; applying a rotational forceabout a first horizontal axis of the grip portion to apply a torque to acylindrical mouth portion of the bulbous cap, wherein the torque isgreater than a torque that would be applied to the cylindrical mouthportion if the rotational force were applied about a second horizontalaxis of the grip portion; wherein the grip portion comprises a firstradius along the first horizontal axis thereof that is greater than asecond radius along the second horizontal axis thereof; wherein thefirst horizontal axis is perpendicular to the second horizontal axis,and wherein both the first horizontal axis and the second horizontalaxis are each perpendicular to a vertical axis that extends through acenter of the cylindrical mouth portion; wherein the cylindrical mouthportion is sized to fit over a mouth of the container and includes athreading thereon that is complementary to a threading of the mouth ofthe container. 12) The method of claim 11, wherein the grip portionfurther comprises a third radius along the first horizontal axis that isgreater than a fourth radius along the second horizontal axis, whereinthe first radius is equal to and parallel with the third radius, andwherein the second radius is equal to and parallel with the fourthradius. 13) The method of claim 12, wherein a first cross section of thegrip portion along the first horizontal axis is circular. 14) The methodof claim 13, wherein a second cross section of the grip portion alongthe second horizontal axis is oval. 15) The method of claim 14, whereina third cross section of the grip portion along the vertical axis isoval.